A student in a rectangular playground sets up an – coordinate system with the…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A student in a rectangular playground sets up an x–y coordinate system with the south–west corner at the origin and the x–axis pointing east.
Starting from the point (5m,0m), the student jogs along four straight paths in the order given below:
(i) Resolve each of the four displacements into their component form on the chosen axes.
(ii) Calculate the student’s final coordinates after completing the sequence.
(iii) Determine the magnitude and bearing (angle measured clockwise from north) of the net displacement with respect to the starting point.
(iv) If the four displacements were taken in the reverse order, would the final coordinates change? Give a vector–based explanation for your answer.